Rock and a Hard Place – Week 10

Four teams are on a bye in Week 10: Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, and Washington. That means an elite quarterback, two top running backs, and several solid receivers are out of lineups. Below, I’ll list some players that you may want to consider as a bye week replacement, their Week 10 matchup, and the percentage of leagues in which he is owned according to our friends at fleaflicker.com.

Let’s take a look at this week’s targets, keeping in mind that these aren’t every week starters. Instead, these are guys that should only be used if you’re in some kind of roster emergency, whether it be related to bye weeks or injuries.

QB

Ryan Tannehill vs TEN – 21%. Locker’s opponent in this matchup will also be worth starting. Tannehill has played much better than expected this season, and he’s definitely part of the reason the Dolphins are doing as well as they have been. Against a bad Titans pass defense, he has a chance to put up some gaudy numbers. He’s projected for 255 yards passing with two scores, and I think he tops those numbers.

Jake Locker @MIA – 20%. Locker is due back for the first time since injuring his non-throwing shoulder back in Week 4. In the time he’s been out, Chris Johnson has started to hit his stride, and his receiving corps has remained fairly healthy. Kenny Britt might see the most improvement as a result, since Locker has a much stronger arm than backup Matt Hasselbeck. Fantasy Sharks projections have him throwing for 250 yards and a pair of scores.

RB

Marcel Reece @BAL – 17%. Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both sustained ankle injuries last week. As a result, the Raiders went pass heavy, and Marcel Reece filled in admirably with eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He typically doesn’t carry the ball much. Third string tailback Taiwan Jones has an opportunity to run the ball, but the Ravens should be able to score at will on Oakland, meaning Reece would get most of the work. He’s projected for 65 total yards, and I think he tops that.

Jacquizz Rodgers @NO – 36%. Rodgers has become an important part of the Falcons offense, making plays in the screen game and giving Michael Turner an opportunity to stay fresh. Matt Ryan has hit him 12 times in the past three games, and I like that trend to continue. Against a Saints defense that over-performed on Monday night, I think the Falcons give them a bit of a reality check. Rodgers is forecasted for 75 total yards on Sunday.

WR

Emmanuel Sanders vs KC – 15%. An ankle injury to Antonio Brown opened the door for Emmanuel Sanders, quietly one of the top #3 receivers in the league, to step up on a primetime stage on Monday night. The Steelers host Kansas City and should be able to do whatever they want throughout the game. Mike Wallace will do what he does, and Sanders will fill-in for Brown in a possession receiver role. He’s projected for five catches, 80 yards, and a score.

Andrew Hawkins vs NYG – 31%. Hawkins makes his triumphant return to “Rock and a Hard Place” after several weeks mired in mediocrity. Since starting the season red hot, he has slowed down in recent weeks, along with the Bengals offense. He’s still got incredible quickness, and, with the Giants rolling coverage to A.J. Green, I like Hawkins to surpass the three catch, 40-yard projection we have set for him.

Danario Alexander @TB – 2%. Last time we saw Alexander, he was leading the Chargers in receiving last Thursday night against the Chiefs. In his first game action, he got the start over Robert Meachem, who’s been slowed by a hamstring injury. But even when healthy, Meachem and Rivers haven’t been on the same page. Alexander, on the other hand, seemed to work just fine, using his size and speed to make plays in the passing game. Tampa Bay’s pass defense has been terrible this season, and I think Alexander can have a nice day, topping the three catches for 40 yards we have projected.

Good luck in week 10.

Drew Magyar is a FantasySharks.com staff writer and can be reached at drewmagyar@gmail.com. “What Did We Learn” will be posted each Tuesday morning during the season, and “Rock and a Hard Place” will be posted each Friday morning.

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